U01DA055322

Healthy Brain and Child Development Study at UAB and UA - Brain development during the early years goes through rapid change with vulnerable periods where a variety of environmental exposures can have a large and enduring impact on early neurodevelopment and long-term health outcomes.

Experiences will permanently modify brain structure and function through epigenetic changes that contribute to individual differences, in addition to reciprocal interactions among brain plasticity and autonomic neuroendocrine, metabolic, and immune functions. Few studies have addressed how early brain development and trajectories are impacted by early experiences and potential biological interactions within a diverse population inclusive of rural and minority populations.

The central goal of the HEAL Initiative: Healthy Brain and Child Development Study is to prospectively examine brain and behavioral development from birth through childhood with emphasis on the impact of in utero substance exposure on outcome. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Alabama (UA), we will enroll pregnant women during their second trimester and follow their infants with a comprehensive multimodal data longitudinal study.

Strengths to UAB include the Comprehensive Addiction in Pregnancy Program (CAPP) that provides prenatal care and support to pregnant women with a history of substance use. UAB OB supports several prenatal clinics within Jefferson and Blount County Departments of Health, neighborhood health centers, and the complications clinic. UAB is actively enrolling participants for the HEAL Outcomes of Babies with Opioid Exposure and the ACT NOW Weaning Study. UAB is a site for the NICHD Maternal Fetal Medicine Network and the NICHD Neonatal Research Network for over 25 years, with long-standing, well-established, and highly productive collaborations with other centers.

UA operates at the University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa that serves the majority of the Medicaid recipients in the region as well as rural clinics in surrounding counties, including those in the Alabama Black Belt. The UA team has expertise in neuroimaging, EEG, rural health, maternal health, and child development. Therefore, there is demonstrated adequacy of clinical, research, administrative, and facilities to accomplish this project. We clearly express our intent to participate in a cooperative manner with the other research sites, the HDCC, HCAC, the NIH Program Scientist, and the NIH Program Official in all aspects of research in a manner consistent with the terms of the award.

Specific Aims:
1. Determine typical neurodevelopmental trajectories and typical range of variability of brain development from birth through childhood in a diverse population.
2. Determine how early life exposure to opioids, other substances, and other adverse environmental circumstances affect these trajectories.
3. Determine how genetic influences interact with environmental factors to influence neurodevelopment.

Design:
300 mother/child dyads (100 with and 200 without a history of drug exposure) with complete longitudinal brain, behavioral, and biological assessment in conjunction with other research sites within the HEAL Initiative.

University Of Alabama At Birmingham

TO SUPPORT BASIC AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE, BIOMEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, EPIDEMIOLOGIC, HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTH DISPARITY RESEARCH. TO DEVELOP NEW KNOWLEDGE AND APPROACHES RELATED TO THE PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, ETIOLOGY, AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE AND ADDICTION, INCLUDING HIV/AIDS. TO SUPPORT RESEARCH TRAINING AND RESEARCH SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT. TO SUPPORT DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAMS TO EMPHASIZE AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED THROUGH FEDERAL SBIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN THE SBIR PROGRAM. THE LEGISLATION INTENDS THAT THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.279 - Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [HHS - NIH]

Birmingham, Alabama 352940004 United States

Single Zip Code

HEAL Initiative: HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (U01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-DA-21-021)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 696% from $1,140,130 to $9,071,052.